SAS Staff News, February 13

WELCOME BACK TO 2006 SCHOOL YEAR!

PUBLIC INTEREST CAMPAIGN

Concern about service delivery has been heightened by the State Opposition's commitment to cut 29,000 public servants and the upcoming Costa audit, with mooted job cuts of 4,000 positions.

Both sides of politics are talking about wholesale sackings of public servants which would severely compromise the delivery of public services.

As part of the campaign the PSA will conduct a series of Impact Statements charting the decline in service delivery following research showing voters want to see more public services and staff employed in New South Wales.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL SUPPORT OFFICER - GRADE 1 POSITION

The PSA and DET have agreed on the allocation of the above positions. The funding for the positions was outlined in the part settlement of the Review of the Work of School Assistants and Senior School Assistants: - "In 2005/06, an additional $8 million (on top of the $17 million) will be allocated to engage additional staff, predominantly in Grade 1 positions."

Initially, it was the Department's intention to limit the allocation to some schools. The Department's position was supported by the Primary Principals' Association and the Secondary Principals Council.

The PSA has been successful in ensuring an allocation to all schools and centres across the State. This allocation will be a permanent allocation and be included in the staffing formula.

The $8 million will be used to introduce a Grade 1 position classified as "School Support Officer". This position will support the current Grade 2 (School Administrative Officer) and Grade 3 (School Administrative Manager) positions.

The allocation is as follows:

Group 1: PH1 (900+) and PP1 (701+) The 0.2 FTE school support officer (1 day per week)

Group 2: PH2 (1-900), PP2 (451-700) and PC1 (451+)
The 0.1 FTE school support officer (half day per week)

Group 3: (All remaining schools)
.064 FTE (2 hours seven minutes) to part-time school administrative managers (small schools)
.078 FTE (2 hours twenty seven minutes) to part-time school administrative officers (small schools)

Sue Walsh and Schools Delegates are having discussions with Departmental Officers to reach agreement on:

• A Statement of Duties for the School Support Officer position
• Advertisement for the position
• Recruitment process for the position
• A timeframe for recruitment
• A revised staffing operation procedure

The Association has also requested a training program for the School Administrative Managers to familiarise them with details of the role and responsibilities of the "new" classification.

$8 million is not enough to tackle the ever-increasing workload of SAS Staff. However, we have met with the Minister and Senior Departmental Officials and have been told that the Department is restricted by budget constraints in allocating advertised resources to appropriately address work overload. It is the view of delegates to take the $8 million on offer and build on it in future campaigns. Negotiations continue this week.

WORKLOAD ISSUES AND LACK OF CONSULTATION

• Attempted to change professional learning activities financial arrangements by having course registration fees collected by direct debit. (PSA officials met with departmental officers to discuss this issue). We were informed that the direct debit is for Teacher Professional Learning ONLY. It does not apply to SAS staff. Members employed in the North Coast should ignore the "In Principal" memo issued recently as it contains misinformation. We will be requesting the region re-issue the memo.

• Expected School Administrative Managers to supervise "outside" OASIS/Cert III Education Support School Assistant course participants and/or voluntary workers. Some TAFE institutes are offering OASIS or other courses to members of the public but stipulate prior to enrolling the participant must have set up paid work or voluntary work in a school to enable them to complete the course. SAS staff should NOT supervise trainees.

• Allowed some Principals to impose the development and management of "mobile phone" registers on SAS staff.

• Introduced a system of SMS/phoning parents re student absences.

SAS staff should not undertake any new duties. The PSA is working hard to have your jobs recognised. Say NO to work overload/new duties.

STEMS, FM Web, SSTARTS, SMART and CSA6 data entry and management

If you have any enquiries regarding the above information please do not hesitate to contact the PSA on (02) 9290 1555.

FILLING OF TAS IM POSITIONS

According to the Department, Principals were advised to fill positions casually, pending recruitment action.

The Association has written to the Department seeking an urgent meeting to discuss their plans to fill the positions permanently and requesting immediate consultation on the process to be followed, including negotiating eligibility to apply.

We will keep TAS members informed as the process develops.

GENERAL ASSISTANTS STATEMENT OF DUTIES

Please contact your local or regional organisers for up-to-date information.

AEA STATEMENT OF DUTIES - NAME CHANGE BALLOT

Sue Walsh
President

Alice Murphy
Senior Industrial Officer